The fight between contemporary legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. is, in theory, an eight-round exhibition bout, but it seems ‘Iron Mike’ is prepared for more serious business.
The California State Athletic Commission recently insisted that the two greats, now in their fifties, would take it easy on one another during the September 12 bout in Carson and not resort to headhunting. Yet Tyson has a different storyline in mind.
“This is search and destroy and I’m looking forward to recapturing my glory,” Tyson, 54, told TMZ after a training session in Los Angeles. “If the opportunity comes [for the knockout], I’m always looking for it.”
Many, including former heavyweight great George Foreman, have expressed concern that Jones or Tyson might get seriously hurt, bearing in mind ‘Iron Mike’ hasn’t fought since a grim 2005 retirement loss to Irishman Kevin McBride. But former undisputed heavyweight champion Tyson isn’t concerned.
“Don’t worry about us,” he said. “[George] wasn’t worried about getting hurt when he went on his tour of coming back and fighting. We’re both professionals. We know how to handle ourselves and whatever happens, happens.
“The fighting game is what I’m about and hurting people is what I’m about.”